Uncommon to rare in migration, several golden-plovers graced the extensive mudflats at Jordan Lake in September 2007. Similar to Black-bellied Plover, but more graceful, with a finer bill and "cuter" expression. Easy to distinguish from a Black-bellied in flight, since Black-bellied has black "armpits" and a pale rump (a more uniform gray in American Golden-Plover). Note also that the belly is finely streaked in American Golden-Plover, unstreaked white in winter-plumaged Black-bellied.

The first five photos are of the same individual, digiscoped using a Nikon CoolPix 995 hand held to a Kowa TSN-824 spotting scope, about 60x.

New Hope Creek mudflats, Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 9/17/07.

This one had a broken wing and had a tough time flying.

Dare Co., NC 11/9/07.